1250 RS Tank Range

[Mallard]

I’ve just swopped my 1250 GS for an RS and it comes with a slightly smaller fuel tank (18Lt). The fuel warning light comes on at 43 miles. Topping the tank to the brim (it took 13.63Lt) the computer then gives me a range reading of 196 and an mpg of 52. So, I have a riding range of 153. But if I play around with the maths the mpg comes out slightly less at 49.5.

I’ve only got a few hundred miles on the bike at the moment, and none of that has been long runs so, as I put more miles on I will expect a better mpg and a longer range.

How does this compare to others in the RS owners?

 

[wessie]

On my R1200RS, the range finder seems to be dynamic. Depending on how I have been riding over the last x miles, the distance to empty will read in the 180s to 220s after a refill. My low fuel warning comes on with around 50 miles to go. I have gone down to 2 miles left after Garmin lied about the presence of an Intermarche in a village, and not run out of fuel. Not sure why you want to refill as soon as you hit the low fuel warning, although in the real world I would probably be looking to stop at 150 miles due to my bladder and hip needing relief. Makes sense to combine this with refuelling. Bimbling around home in Mid Wales, I'll look to fill up when the range left is around 25 miles.
Oh, and on an autobahn chasing a mate on a Triumph Trophy 1200 at 120+mph, those range miles drop at an alarming rate!

 

[Morety]

On mine, I check after I brim the tank, then after the light comes on, I brim it again.

My average mpg has reflected what the on board computer says very closely. Last tank averaged 55mpg, with the on board saying 56, so surprisingly close. That gives a shade under 220 miles per tank which is about right. My GSA gave me about 325 miles per tank at approx 49mpg with the computer saying closer to 54mpg average. I guess the extra weight and frontal area made it slightly less economical. As I rarely ride more than 200 miles without a break, the RS tank is fine. I've always regarded most bikes with an 18 litre tank as perfectly adequate for most needs.

 

[daesimps]

I had the R1250RS before my R1250GS. Wife is now on her second 1250RS. We find 200 miles is easily doable on the RS, but usually fill up about 180.

The difference in range between our bikes (on the gauge) tends to be no more than 10-20 miles, so we just always fill at the same time.

 

[Mallard]

On my R1200RS, the range finder seems to be dynamic. Depending on how I have been riding over the last x miles, the distance to empty will read in the 180s to 220s after a refill. My low fuel warning comes on with around 50 miles to go. I have gone down to 2 miles left after Garmin lied about the presence of an Intermarche in a village, and not run out of fuel. Not sure why you want to refill as soon as you hit the low fuel warning, although in the real world I would probably be looking to stop at 150 miles due to my bladder and hip needing relief. Makes sense to combine this with refuelling. Bimbling around home in Mid Wales, I'll look to fill up when the range left is around 25 miles.
Oh, and on an autobahn chasing a mate on a Triumph Trophy 1200 at 120+mph, those range miles drop at an alarming rate!

Thanks Wessie. Just using the low light as a measure. Agree with everything you say about 150 miles!

 

[Mallard]

I had the R1250RS before my R1250GS. Wife is now on her second 1250RS. We find 200 miles is easily doable on the RS, but usually fill up about 180.

The difference in range between our bikes (on the gauge) tends to be no more than 10-20 miles, so we just always fill at the same time.

Thanks Morety & daesimps. Both reassuring. I would be very content with 200 miles

 

[Morety]

Thanks Morety & daesimps. Both reassuring. I would be very content with 200 miles

You'd get that without much trouble at all. No range anxiety...I remember travelling up the M5 and M6 some years back in order to get the ferry to the IoM on my RSV Mille and the reserve light coming on at 120 miles with enough in the tank for maybe another 20 miles or so I reckoned. Next services were 25 miles so remember well sweating it out whether it would make it or not...it did and topping it up I worked out I had about a litre left in the tank, so I guess I could have squeezed a little more out if it but with all my boxers, I've always been able to plan at least 180 to 200 miles between fuel stops leaving enough spare in the tank. I'm with wessie though...I like to stretch my legs every few hours so 150 mile pit stops suit me fine.

 

[Mallard]

You'd get that without much trouble at all. No range anxiety...I remember travelling up the M5 and M6 some years back in order to get the ferry to the IoM on my RSV Mille and the reserve light coming on at 120 miles with enough in the tank for maybe another 20 miles or so I reckoned. Next services were 25 miles so remember well sweating it out whether it would make it or not...it did and topping it up I worked out I had about a litre left in the tank, so I guess I could have squeezed a little more out if it but with all my boxers, I've always been able to plan at least 180 to 200 miles between fuel stops leaving enough spare in the tank. I'm with wessie though...I like to stretch my legs every few hours so 150 mile pit stops suit me fine.

Cheers Morety. I also had a RSVR for a while. It drank more than an alcoholics garden party, - but a brilliant bike

 

[Morety]

Cheers Morety. I also had a RSVR for a while. It drank more than an alcoholics garden party, - but a brilliant bike

Indeedy...had three now. 2001 Mille, 2004 RSVR Colin Edwards Replica and 2003 RSVR. Loved every minute in the saddle. If my back allowed me to, I'd still have been riding them today.

 

[littleade]

I'm still running mine in so it's improving with each ride as it loosens up. After a top up I had a 93 mile run round Shropshire, the Welsh Boarders and Worcestershire this week. TFT is showing 130 miles left so that's 223 miles per tank according to the pooter. I used to get an indicated 238ish miles on the GS when I filled that up. I use Tesco E5 Super Unleaded.

 

[Boxerboy55]

Like others, my RS1200 does 220 regularly.

55 to 60 mpg easy. Unless on track.

I find the Range reading on dash to be accurate. Have run the range below zero a couple of times, but was always gambling near home.

I always fill up at the end of the day to ensure an easy kick off next morning and may top up with half a tank when touring if a fuel stop is convenient.

As an example, I knew I was going to ride 300 miles one day last week so a I’d need fuel en route and chose a convenient supermarket top up around the half way mark. Then refilled at the garage near home.

It ain’t rocket science.

 

[steadysteve]

I ran mine down to 3 miles range recently and it took 17.1 litres.
Fuel consumption when new was around 50mpg but has improved as it’s bedded in. On 7200 miles now.
A recent 2200 mile tour averaged 62.6mpg with panniers and top box.
It doesn’t seem to use any more fuel with luggage attached, unlike my 1200GS LC which dropped 10mpg with luggage.

 

[Mallard]

I ran mine down to 3 miles range recently and it took 17.1 litres.
Fuel consumption when new was around 50mpg but has improved as it’s bedded in. On 7200 miles now.
A recent 2200 mile tour averaged 62.6mpg with panniers and top box.
It doesn’t seem to use any more fuel with luggage attached, unlike my 1200GS LC which dropped 10mpg with luggage.

Wow - 3 miles. I would have seriously tight buttocks

 

[steadysteve]

Wow - 3 miles. I would have seriously tight buttocks

I worked my way down to that number over a few fill ups…
Seems like it’s fairly accurate. Still had a litre remaining which would be 12-15 miles for a stated range of 3 miles.

 

[wessie]

I worked my way down to that number over a few fill ups…
Seems like it’s fairly accurate. Still had a litre remaining which would be 12-15 miles for a stated range of 3 miles.

I wanted to know the range on the yellow light on my Tracer as I think this just counted up from zero. I put a full 5 litre can in the topbox and after 20 miles on the yellow light I did 3 mile circuits around my local asda. I bottled out at 33 miles. Brimmed the tank on the main stand. 17.96 litres into a nominal 18 litre tank. The RS is very conservative.

 

[Mallard]

I wanted to know the range on the yellow light on my Tracer as I think this just counted up from zero. I put a full 5 litre can in the topbox and after 20 miles on the yellow light I did 3 mile circuits around my local asda. I bottled out at 33 miles. Brimmed the tank on the main stand. 17.96 litres into a nominal 18 litre tank. The RS is very conservative.

A while back we had a Mercedes C-class. I explained the range indicator to my dear wife. I eventually got the phone call, "the car's stopped" - You can guess the rest

 

[steadysteve]

I had a Tenere 700 that was very conservative on the range indicator. It could be taken way way past zero range. Approx 40 miles was the record before I chickened out but there was still more than a litre in the tank.
Seem to remember my GS LC would do 20 miles past the zero point, although that was due to bad management and not planned

 

[keithzx]

I had a Tenere 700 that was very conservative on the range indicator. It could be taken way way past zero range. Approx 40 miles was the record before I chickened out but there was still more than a litre in the tank.
Seem to remember my GS LC would do 20 miles past the zero point, although that was due to bad management and not planned

i have 2000 miles on my 2023 rs 1250 rs easily get 55 mpg on an average 150 mile run out, and that's not hanging about , i don't tend to stay in the lower gears

 

[zoltan]

A recent 2200 mile tour averaged 62.6mpg with panniers and top box.
It doesn’t seem to use any more fuel with luggage attached,

^^^^62+MPG in The Black Forest in 30/40/60km speed limit areas. Motorway in Germany down to 45mpg at silly speeds. I got over 50+ over 2000 miles. Different grade petrol didn't make any difference. So pleased with the consumption.

 

[RS-eyJohn]

I’ve just swopped my 1250 GS for an RS and it comes with a slightly smaller fuel tank (18Lt). The fuel warning light comes on at 43 miles. Topping the tank to the brim (it took 13.63Lt) the computer then gives me a range reading of 196 and an mpg of 52. So, I have a riding range of 153. But if I play around with the maths the mpg comes out slightly less at 49.5.

I’ve only got a few hundred miles on the bike at the moment, and none of that has been long runs so, as I put more miles on I will expect a better mpg and a longer range.

How does this compare to others in the RS owners?

My s/h and well run-in 2019 1250RS has averaged 58mpg over 4,000 miles. The on-board estimator usually suggests 225 miles - unless I have been errm busier than usual. And I rarely run deeper than 25 miles into the 45 miles of warning range, because the first thing to suffer from low fuel would be the pump, which is cooled by the fuel...so I figure its not worth finding out!

My 2019 1250RT also averaged 58, however the better throttle response less weight and vastly better suspension mean I'm having lots more smiles per mile